Beyond Black History Month Embracing Black culture on campus

By Briana Thompson Staff Reporter

In the month of February, Black students on campus continue to embrace their culture at a predominate white institution (PWI).

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their role in U.S. history, according to History. com.

There are resources available at Central Michigan University to learn more about Black identity. Black faculty, staff and students discussed what Black History means to them.

James Span Jr., executive director of the Center for Student Inclusion and Diversity, said his race and gender are his two most dominant identities.

“I am 100% a Black man who has graduated from two historically Black colleges and universities, who is the son of a Black man and a Black woman who was born and raised into a Black Christian church,” Span said. “I choose to use Black instead of the term African American because of the correlation and connection that links to our struggle and to appease nonBlacks, as African American may sound easier.

“During the civil rights movement, my people resisted, fought, stood up and sat for themselves to resolve issues of housing, equity, jobs, wealth and health care for many generations to come.”

Alfred Harper, assistant director for Multicultural Student Education at the Multicultural Academic Student Services (MASS) office, said he attended the historically Black college and university (HBCU), Central State

University.

“As I attended CSU, I was grateful to receive an education because there was a time when we were not allowed to enroll at predominate white institutions,” Harper said. “Being a first-generation college student and being the first male in my family to finish my master’s and currently working on my doctoral degree, I am setting an example for my younger cousins and my nephew in real-time.”

Black RSOs on Campus Presidents, founders and members of Black registered student organizations (RSOs) on campus said their experiences at CMU shaped them as Black leaders.

The Women’s Initiative for Strength and Hope (WISH) works with women on leadership, professional skills and connecting with women leaders in the community.

Janay Johnson, the president of WISH, said the organization has shaped her experience on campus.

“I believe that there’s a unity that is encouraged,” Johnson said. “Collaboration through team building is a part of Black culture. WISH collaborates with Black Girls Rock, Black Men Rock and Men About Change to gain campus mentoring and community resources.”

Dasia Myles, the program coordinator for WISH, said the program helps women of color find a system of support on campus.

“I have helped women of color realize there is a safe space for them,” Myles said. “My experience has helped shape me where to look for people who have common ground. The programs WISH works within, including Native American Programs, the Student Transitioning and Enrichment Program and Native American Indigenous Student Organizations, are not getting pushed enough to get the recognition that they deserve at CMU.”

The Organization of Black Leaders (OBL) focuses on “building a sense of community amongst Black students while developing leadership and professional skills,” according to OBL’s Instagram.

Danielle Lewis founded OBL in August 2020 and is the current president. She said Black resistance is very prominent within history and communities.

“When I think of Black resistance, I think about the residual of the terrible things that happened in our history, and it motivates me to continue that fight and continue resisting against the systems put in place before I was born,” Lewis said. “In the future, I see myself as a lawyer defending people of color and people who are put in the system not made to protect us.”

The Organization for Black Unity Fashion Show (OBU) hosts an annual fashion show, usually in February because of Black History Month. The show is